Hydrogen production using single-chamber membrane-free microbial electrolysis cells

Abstract

Microbial electrohydrogenesis provides a new approach for hydrogen generation from renewable biomass. Membranes were used in all the reported microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) to separate the anode and cathode chambers. To reduce the potential losses associated with membrane and increase the energy recovery of this process, single-chamber membrane-free MECs were designed and used to investigate hydrogen production by one mixed culture and one pure culture: Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. At an applied voltage of 0.6 V, this system with a mixed culture achieved a hydrogen production rate of 0.53 m³/day/m³ (0.11 m³/day/m²) with a current density of 9.3A/m² at pH 7 and 0.69 m³/day/m³ (0.15m³/day/m²) with a current density of 14 A/m² at pH 5.8. Stable hydrogen production from lactic acid by S. oneidensis was also observed. Methane was detected during the hydrogen production process with the mixed culture and negatively affected hydrogen production rate. However, by employing suitable approaches, such as exposure of cathodes to air, the hydrogenotrophic methanogens can be suppressed. The current density and volumetric hydrogen production rate of this system have potential to increase significantly by further reducing the electrode spacing and increasing the ratio of electrode surface area/cell volume.

Key findings

• ▸Single-chamber membrane-free MECs show improved hydrogen production rates and stability compared to traditional MECs.
• ▸The absence of a membrane allows for increased mass transport and improved microbial activity.
• ▸The study demonstrates the potential of single-chamber membrane-free MECs for large-scale hydrogen production.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.1016/j.watres.2008.06.015

PubMed

18718624

Journal

Water Research

Year

2008